It’s not necessarily an experience I would recommend to other professional custom builders. And anyway, most would refuse to collaborate with a fellow builder, even if he is a personal friend. And for evident reasons. Each builder has his own strong personality and style, his own way to work, to do things, from the most mundane to the most difficult tasks, even his own way to use tools… Of course, each is right in his own kingdom.
On this project, the 2 pro-builders are American builders Chris Richarson from LA Speed Shop in California and Swiss Danny Schneider from HardNine Choppers in Bern, the capital of the Helvetic Federation. Their Chopper is called “Calibernia” the evident contraction of their respective working locations. And I reassure you, project completed, they still do more than talk to each other. They party together like they did all night in Verona , Italy 2 weeks ago after winning the “Jammer Old School” Class at the Motor Bike Expo.
Chris Richardson and Danny Schneider got acquainted for the 1st time in 2010 during The Las Vegas Bikefest whereboth were invited to the builders bike show competition “Artistry In Iron”. Then they met again and again on the show tour, both in the US and Europe where their respective custom creations were taking the gold and silver and alternatively the silver and gold. It was at their favorite event, the 2014 Italy Motor Bike Expo that they decided to try a project together although (they admitted later) they were very nervous at the idea of sharing what is usually a very personal work. Which custom builder would not have feared that the final result would be more a compromise than the best of what could be produced alone.
What type of project they agreed on? Of course, the style they both like, a new built retro styled chopper based on a classic Harley engine. Weeks later, while riding with Chris, Danny’s 1931 Indian broke down in the middle of nowhere. While waiting for a tow truck, they met a lady who told them that her son had a bike for sale, a 1950 Panhead. Back at the shop, the deal was signed on the spot and Danny became the owner of the 50 Pan, the base on which both worked intensively, together and separately in their respective countries to create Calibernia.
So,I ask both builders about such an unusual collaboration. Danny Schneider told be that being the junior pro (7 years building bikes versus 25 for Chris Richardson), he learned a lot regarding old engine and tranny re-building. That he was impressed by the way Chris did the split Pan Heads, a very difficult job producing a spectacular aesthetic result, and that Danny will probably try to do himself on a next project. For the other fabrication tasks, they split the work between them (see who did what in tech sheet listed at the end of feature), working together 3 weeks in a row 18 hours/day in Los Angeles, then Danny returning to Switzerland to finish some fab work, to join again Chris in LA for a final bike mockup with main parts assembled for fit testing before going to paint. For frustration, Danny mentioned that it took him a full week to know where and how Chris organizes his tool boxes… For Chris, frustration came from the long discussions required to arrive at a compromise (for example low or high bars? and repeat alternatives about 50 more parts) As expected by both, a succession of creative conflicts but that they resolved in having fun talking smack and making fun of each other… The 3rd person to be involved with Calibernia was of course the painter who has the merit not only for an awesome job, but also for having been able to have 2 builders with strong convictions agree on a paint scheme and colors, at debriefing…and when the clear coat was dry…
For both builders it’s hard to believe that less than a year ago they talked about this project without necessarily believing at the time that it could be accomplished without sacrifiying their friendship. They told me that Calibernia is even more fantastic that they could have hoped. They don’t know what the future holds for them, but for sure agree that it was the most enriching experience, professionally, but also personally. Full tech sheet at bottom of page. LA Speed Shop with HardNine Choppers and Buck Wildbrand (All studio photography @ Horst Roesler for Cyril Huze, on location @ Tino Scherer)
Tech Sheet
-1950 Harley-Davidson Panhead
-Engine: Split Heads, fully rebuilt By Chris & Danny.
-Transmission: rebuilt for chain drive.
-Clutch primo rivera, Chris & Danny
-Front wheel: 23”. hub narrowed by Chris.
-Rear Wheel: 19”
-Gas tank: hand made, Danny.
-Oil tank: hand made, Chris
-Fender struts: Hand made, Chris
-Handlebars: handmade, Danny
-Carburetor: S&S Super E
-Foot controls: handmade, Chris
-Front end, pipes, fender, triple trees, headlight from Paughco
-Seat plate: Danny & Chris
-Seat: Leather work by Pascal at Hollywoodriffraff
-Headlight Mount: Stainless, handmade by Danny
-Paint Job: Buck from Buckwildbrand
-All machined out parts by Chris
-Workin time:
3 weeks Danny & Chris together
1 week Chris alone
1 week final assembly Danny & Chris together
12 days for molding, paint preparation and paint of all parts by Buck
Nice paint. ..Z
A beauty! Chris knows what a true custom bike should look like and knows how to build one the right way. Thanks for sharing the vision.
Terrific chop.
The way today’s chops should look. Great job, details and paints.
Admiring the split Pans
The bottom picture is superb.
In that one picture is the guy giving a Nazi salute?
Another dumb comment by Rodent. How many each week? I was talking about the big picture of the HarNine guy taking a sharp right turn.
How come just about every bike magazine nowadays got away from showing full custom choppers, bobbers and pro street bikes compiled into one magazine like the bike pictured above? I just don’t mean 2 to 3 featured bikes per magazine. I mean 10 to 20 featured bikes per magazine. Today, it’s just baggers, stock bikes with a few mods and a paint job, or some rusty looking rat bikes.
Maybe because Cyril Huze gets them first in exclusivity or builders know that print magazines are an obsolete medium.
Now that’s the way a custom chop should look — something anybody would be proud to ride.
Why are the heads split?
I’m still learning, so excuse the question. Cool style
Answer. Cosmetic.
A very nicely detailed scoot.
Can’t go wrong with that classic style.
Great stance, nice detail. Something that can actually be used.
Personally prefer a small HD tank sitting over the motor.
(makes for a better “line” -IMHO-)
-nicker-
Simply amazing! I fell in love with this bike.
Suprerb feature, Cyril. The 2 builders must be very happy.
The way all chops should look. Great paint job too.
I am in love.
RE: Rodent & Jeffrey: Speaking for myself only, I can do w/o the Nazi & racial connotations…….Thank you……Thank you very much!
Crap…I forgot what I was going to say! I rest my left hand on my left leg when shifting my suicide clutch. Looks like standard operating procedure (S.O.P.) to me.
It’s not a nazi salute. Look at his other arm. He is joking with Dany about the angle he should take for the photo.
Great looking bike. saggin pants on that chopper builder. I thought that was for gangstas.
Split heads almost as impressive as the seat joined handstand. Somehow though I think Usain Bolt is not quite feeling threatened yet – but persevere mate…
Not a fan of a 23″ front – but it goes to go well with the 19 at the back here.
I have not dealt with Paughco front ends (specifically) for a while – but somehow I do not remember them having a wishbone front springer (perhaps a builders mod) – certainly compliments the wishbone frame well.
Always nice to see a mix of catalogue parts and fabricated pieces combining well in a cohesive build.
Some color on the pipes – so it has been ridden in anger; great!
Thanking the custom gods we are off flames, skulls, daggers and big wheel baggers, for now at least.
NICE ride….It proves two heads ARE better than one….
Is it me or is the clutch leaver on the right handlebar, with no foot clutch. It would be hard to steal! I can see it now, bad guy tries to steals the bike and can’t figure out how to ride it, no clutch where it should be. Great ride, hope you go lots of places and show it off, it’s a winner!
RE:
“… can’t figure out how to ride it ,,,”
Looks to me like a right hand clutch with a regular ratchet-top jockey-shift……
Sorry, no break-in biker “suiside” anything here… 🙂
-nicker-
I guess that’s how the young builders who can’t work a foot clutch run a jockey. Nothing new here these bikes are being built all the time you just need to look for them in different places because these guys don’t like running with the posers fakers and wannabes. Grate looking bike, like to see them being featured again.
Spot-on Early Iron….
Like to see-em ridden also……
-nicker-
My style. She’s a beauty.
Damn fine looking cycle
That kind of style is great
And if you’re younger than 35-45 you can ride that all day long & be just fine
As we all get a little older the only place I’d ride a bike like that is to the local bar & back home
Still, a damn fine looking bike
Ah, yesterdays !!!!
What a beauty!!!, and even better meant to ride,,,must be fun as hell to ride. Outstanding!